Noise disturbance and sometimes heavy traffic were the primary concerns of residents who came to speak against a request to expand activities at Cedar Lakes Cellars outside of Wright City.

The winery and event venue off of Highway M and South Stringtown Road is seeking to expand its Warren County conditional use permit (CUP) to allow a growing roster of special events, as well overnight camping for event vendors.

Owner Carl Bolm presented his request to the Warren County Planning and Zoning Commission May 21 to add “entertainment facility” and “campgrounds” to Cedar Lake’s CUP. Bolm said he would like to host events such as hot air balloon gatherings, arts and crafts festivals, and music festivals on 180 acres that Cedar Lake Cellars owns between Highway M and Highway OO.

As part of those events, Bolm said vendors and setup crews sometimes need to camp on-site overnight to monitor their equipment or products. No public camping would be allowed, Bolm said.

For about a decade, Cedar Lake Cellars has been growing both its property and its business, expanding from a small rental facility into a multi-building food, wine and major events venue. The largest events on the property attract thousands of participants.

“Cedar Lake Cellars opened to over 100,000 visitors in 2019 ... with little to no challenges,” Bolm said. “Over the last 10 years, we’ve paid over $1.5 million in sales tax.

“As we grow, so does the community,” he continued. “We know where those taxes go: schools, roads and other such things.”

Planning and Zoning Administrator Vickie Vohsen advised the commission that the most common complaint received by the Warren County Sheriff’s Department against Cedar Lake Cellars is regarding patrons “over-celebrating,” and that there otherwise aren’t many problems at the facility.

But several nearby residents said such “over-celebrating” is a very big problem for them. Five people spoke against the CUP request during the May 21 hearing, which was held in the Wright City Middle School gym.

Opponents’ primary concerns were loud noise that carries across the open farmlands south of Wright City, and traffic that in years past has cut off access to and from their homes.

“It is unbelievably noisy, everything (they) do. I get to hear the music the entire time they have music playing. ... Our house shakes during Pyromania” said nearby resident Rich Baller, referencing a massive fall fireworks show at the venue. “This past year, I guess they got a new PA system. I got to listen to birthday announcements, I got to listen to an egg toss, and how good people were doing ... as if they were in our backyard.”

Another resident, Ashlee Redmon, said crowded traffic on local roads during major events made her fear whether her family could get help during an emergency.

“I have little ones. We live in the country, not close to a hospital. So when we need to call emergency services, but there’s traffic coming from three directions, that’s an issue. I don’t have the comfort of knowing that EMS is going to be able to get to my house in a timely manner,” Redmon said.

In reply, Bolm said he had recognized previous complaints about the traffic load on Highway M and Stracks Church Road around the entry road to Cedar Lake Cellars. That’s why the venue has been building more access roads to its parking area, to get vehicles off the main roads quicker, Bolm said. Cedar Lake Cellars has also been acquiring land to its south along Highway OO, and is planning two more access roads there, he said.

As far as noise from music and announcements, Bolm said he would work to address neighbors’ concerns.

“I have faith there’s a solution,” he commented.

After area residents had a chance to speak, members of the planning and zoning commission said they had also received letters from property owners adjacent to Cedar Lake Cellars, who expressed their support for the business. Commissioners indicated they would likely support Bolm’s CUP application.

However, commissioners did express concerns that campers on the property be limited to a reasonable number, and that proper sanitation would be provided. Bolm said he didn’t expect that more than 50 people would ever need to stay on the property.

Commissioners voted to table a decision on the CUP, to have time to consider the testimony and any limitations they will include on Cedar Lake Cellars’ expanded permit. The commission will reconvene June 18.